MANCHESTER, England, August 16, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- On line betting firm Betfred.com have dismissed the chances of Diego Maradona becoming the next Aston Villa boss.

European spokesman for Maradona Walter Soriano said the former World Cup winner would be interested.

"Diego is very attracted to English football and the way of life in your country and I know he would be very willing to move there."

He went on to say...

"He loves the English countryside and your respect for privacy, so he would be very happy there, especially at a big club like Aston Villa...

If the owner Randy Lerner wants to make him a serious offer, I'm sure he'd get a very positive response."

Although Maradona may give a positive response the bookies have the former Argentinean boss as a big outsider.

Betfred.com spokesman Mark Pearson,

"He was the villain for all England fans in 1986 but we can't see him in the managerial hot seat at Aston Villa. He would certainly be entertaining in the Premier League but we see the caretaker Kevin MacDonald as a more realistic proposition and he's now the 13/8 favourite. It's been a very volatile market with both Sven Goran Eriksson and USA boss Bob Bradley getting supported."

Aston Villa this week have a Europa League qualifier away at Rapid Vienna and on Sunday they are away at Newcastle United.

    Next Permanent Aston Villa Manager

          13/8 Macdonald, Kevin
           7/2 Eriksson, Sven-Goran
           9/2 Bradley, Bob
           7/1 Jol, Martin
          14/1 Curbishley, Alan
          14/1 Southgate, Gareth
          20/1 Hoddle, Glenn
          20/1 Mcclaren, Steve
          20/1 Klinsmann, Jurgen
          25/1 Bilic, Slaven
          25/1 Martinez, Roberto
          25/1 Collins, John
          25/1 Pearce, Stuart

          33/1 Maradona, Diego


    Others on Request
    Contact: Mark Pearson, mark.pearson@betfred.com

SOURCE Betfred.com